AES/EBU - The abbreviation for the Audio
Engineering Society and the European Broadcast Union. Also
refers to recording and broadcast equipment interface standards
established by these organizations.

Ambience - The effect room acoustics have
in shaping the tonal quality of a concert performance or sound
system in producing a fuller, live sound.

Amp - Short for amplifier. An active device
used to amplify audio signals for playback.

Amplitude - The height of a waveform above
or below its zero baseline. Also referred to as signal volume.

Analog - The ability to quantify or measure
continuous changes in volume, speed, mass or other physical
properties through empirical data.

Analog Recording - A linear recording of
changes and fluctuations in an audio wave based on continuous
variations in the electrical output of the audio signal.

Analog To Digital Converter - The device
which does the conversion of a signal that has continuous
changes (usually of voltage) into numbers that approximate
those changes.

Anti-skating - A device that applies lateral
force against the tonearm to help counteract the inward force
created by the record's outer groove wall during disc tracking.
When properly adjusted, helps to keep the stylus centered
in the record groove.

Assign - To choose to which place an output
is going to be sent.

Attack - The rate the sound begins and
increases in volume.

Attenuation - To reduce in signal level.

Automatic Turntable - A turntable which
features automated tonearm functions such as automatic return
or cueing.

Aux Return - Short for Auxiliary Return.
A control, usually found on a mixer, for adjusting the level
of "returning" signals from outboard equipment patched
into the mixer's Auxiliary buss.

Aux Send - Short for Auxiliary Send. A
control for adjusting the level of the signal sent from the
console input channel to outboard equipment or an amplifier
via the Auxiliary buss.

Auxiliary Equipment - Outboard audio gear
such as effects or signal processing equipment which can be
patched into from a mixer's effect loop or aux buss.

Axis - A direction, usually expressed in
degrees, that defines the operating area of a particular audio
device such as a speaker or microphone. The area directly
in front of the device would be considered (zero)0 degrees
or on axis.

Bb

Balance Control - A control on a stereo
amplifier or mixer used to adjust the left/right balance of
the stereo program.

Balanced - 1) Adjusting the left and right
channel program material in a stereo sound system to achieve
an equal mix of both channels. 2) A three-wire cabling or
interconnection system that uses a separate ground wire and
two signal conductors with opposite polarity. Commonly used
in professional sound applications for its immunity to induced
noise and electromagnetic interference. (See XLR connector).

Bass - The lower audio frequency range
up to approximately 250 Hz. Those low frequencies normally
associated with the kick drum and bass guitar.

Battle - A slang term for DJ mix competition.
An event where DJs match their mixing skills for friendly
competition or sponsored prizes.

B-boying - A form of hip hop dancing which
is popularly known as break dancing. B-boying originated in
The Bronx, NY. The term "B-boy" or "B-boying"
came from Kool Herc, popular DJ spinning at block parties
in Bronx back in the days. B-Boys is short for break boys,
a label they received because they danced to the break part
of the music.

Beat - A steady, rhythmic pulse in music
that establishes the tempo of the song.

Beat Counter - An instrument used to automatically
calculate the BMPs of a song.

Beat Juggling - A popular mixing technique
which involves mixing two identical programs with a slight
offset to create a doubling of the bass line. This technique
also includes mixing two different programs in tempo to create
a more complex alternating beat structure.

Beat Mixing - A mixing technique where
two programs with similar beat structure are mixed together
in tempo, creating a seamless transition between the two songs.

Beats Per Minute - The number of steady,
rhythmic pulses per minute of time in a music selection which
establish the tempo of the song.

Belt Drive - A turntable system that uses
a pulley belt to transfer rotational drive from the motor
to the disc platter.

Binary - A digital numbering system based
on two where data is expressed as combinations of "0"s
and "1"s). Bit - A single unit of digital information
expressed as a "0" or "1".

Boost - To increase signal gain, especially
at specific frequencies as in equalization.

BPM - An abbreviation of Beat Per Minute
(the number of steady even pulses in music occurring in one
minute and therefore defining the tempo).

Burn - Recording information onto a CD
or CD-ROM.

Buss (Bus) - A wire carrying signals to
some place, usually fed from several sources.

Cc

Capacitance - The ability of two conductors,
separated by a nonconductor, to store electrical charges.

Cardioid Pattern - A microphone pickup
pattern that provides optimum pick up performance from the
front, less from the sides, and the least from the back of
the microphone.

Cartridge - Short for Phono Cartridge.
The stylus pickup assembly which is mounted on a turntable
tonearm that provides disc playback. (See stylus).

Coax - Two-conductor cable consisting of
a single conductor surrounded by a wire or metal foil shield.

Compact Disc - A small optical laser disk with
digital audio data recorded on it.

Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R) - A blank
Compact Disc that can be recorded on or "burned"
one time only.

Compression Ratio - The ratio of signal
dynamic range (such as 2:1, 4:1 or 8:1) measured at the input
and output of a compressor above the set threshold point.

Compressor - A signal processing device
that limits the fluctuation in the level of the signal above
a certain adjustable or fixed level.

Counterbalance (counterweight) - With reference
to turntables, the small adjustable weight mounted at the
rear end of a tonearm used to apply tracking force. (See Tracking
Force).

Crash Mix - A mixing technique where one
program selection immediately follows another without a gradual
transition.

Crossfader - A transitional slide control
on a mixer for fading in one input channel while fading out
another.

Crossfader Curve Adjustment - A control
that allows adjustment of the crossfader's attenuation characteristics.
Enables users, for example, to change a crossfader's profile
from a fast attack, quick attenuation fader to a slow attack,
gradual attenuation fader

Crossover Frequency - In a speaker crossover
network, the frequency point that represents the upper or
lower range limits of a given speaker driver. In a two-way
speaker system, the crossover frequency would be the point
where the low frequency driver begins to roll off and the
high frequency driver starts to cut in.

Crosstalk - Unwanted leakage of an audio
signal from one channel into an adjacent channel or recording
track. Cue - 1) A control switch enabling a user to listen
to a selected input channel on a mixer with headphones or
monitor speakers. 2) To set the tape or disc so that the desired
selection will immediately play when the playback device is
activated. 3) A control switch on a music playback device
that begins playback from a preselected location

Cueing Lever - A control lever located
below the turntable tonearm that is used to elevate and lower
the arm.

Cue Send - A control for adjusting the
amount of signal sent to a cue bus from an input channel for
program monitoring.

Cut - 1) A song selection on a CD, record,
etc. 2) To mute or turn off. 3) To reduce the gain of a select
range of frequencies as with an equalizer. 4) To filter out
a specific frequency or frequency range.

Cut Switch - A switch control on a mixer
that enables the user to momentarily mute out or cut off an
input channel signal while mixing.

Cutting Lathe - A device used to etch recorded
music into the grooves of a metal disc master used in record
production.

Cycles Per Second - A unit used in the
measure of frequency, equivalent to Hertz. Cycles Per Second
is an outdated term replaced by Hertz in 1968.

Dd

D/A - Abbreviation of the term Digital
To Analog Converter. A device that converts binary data into
corresponding discrete electrical voltage levels.

Daisy Chain - 1) To connect several devices
in parallel so that signals from one device are passed on
to another as with speakers or MIDI devices.

Delay - An audio circuit or device which
suspends output of an audio signal and mixes it with the original
audio source to create a fuller sound.

D.I. - Short for Direct Injection or Direct
Input. An active direct for converting high-level, high-impedance
audio signal to a low-impedance, mic-level signal for insertion
into a mixer's microphone input. Commonly referred to as a
"direct box".

Dial Input Fader - A rotary fader or pot
control used for adjusting signal level of an input source
or channel. Mixers featuring rotary faders are often referred
to as "N.Y. style" fader and are the mixers of choice
for most DJs performing House music.

Digital Recording - A recording process
that converts analog audio signals into binary data that represent
the original audio waveform.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) - Any signal
processing done to an analog audio signal after it has been
converted into digital audio.

Digital To Analog Converter - A circuit
used to change binary data that make up the digital audio
signal into discrete voltage levels that approximate the original
analog audio waveform. Abbreviated as D/A converter.

Direct Box - An electronic device utilizing
a transformer or amplifier to change the electrical output
of an electric instrument (for example, an electric guitar)
to the impedance and level usually obtained from a microphone.

Direct Drive - A motor system in which
rotational energy is transferred directly to the drive source
without the use of a pulley belt or idler wheel.

Dolby - Trademarked noise reduction systems
and technology by Dolby Laboratories to improve the performance
and fidelity of audio recording, playback, and transmission.

Drum Machine - an audio device with sampled
or synthesized drums sounds that can be sequenced by an internal
or external sequencer to play drum patterns.

Dry - A term loosely used to describe an
audio signal without any signal processing. An audio signal
lacking in reverberation or ambience.

DSP - An abbreviation for Digital Signal
Processing (Any signal processing done after an analog audio
signal has been converted into digital audio.

Dub - 1) To make a copy of a recording.
2) To make a recording from one recording source while copying
another so that the end result is a combination of the two.

Dynamic Processing (Dynamic Signal Processing)
- An signal processing system which automatically changes
the gain to maintain a preset level ratio or relationship
between the loudest and quietest passages of music.

Dynamic Range - The level difference, expressed
in dB, between the loudest level and quietest level of a recording
or live audio source.

Dynamics - The amount of level variations
or fluctuation of an audio signal or live music.

Ee

Earth - British term for Ground.

Editing - Altering the original sequence
of a recording by eliminating or inserting musical elements
either manually or digitally.

Effects - 1) Electronic filtering or modification
of an audio signal to change the sound. 2) Sound elements
added to a recording or film score to create a finished product.

Electronica - A general term used to describe
a wide range of guitarless, heavy synthesizer, electronic
dance music.

Engineer - The technician in charge of
a studio recording session. Also commonly called a studio
engineer.

Equalization - The process of boosting
or cutting audio signals at a specific frequency or range
of frequencies

Expansion - To increase the dynamic range
of a program signal by a given ratio. Commonly used in recording
to help boost the level of soft passages of music to bring
them over the noise level.

Ff

Fade - A gradual increase or reduction
in the level of the audio signal. 2) To slowly change the
level of an audio signal from one level setting to another.

Fader - A control used to adjust the gain
of an input or output channel on a mixer.

Fat - Having unusually rich signal strength,
especially at low frequencies or having more sound than normal
as with the use of signal processing.

Feedback - 1) The insertion of a delayed
program signal back to the input for use in echo effects.
2) The pickup and re-amplification of an output signal by
its input resulting in an unwanted "howling" sound.

Feedback Control - An equalization circuit
or control used to help eliminate unwanted program feedback
or "howling".

Filter - A circuit that removes or acts
on certain frequency signals above or below a predetermined
point called a cut-off frequency.

Flange - An audio effect produced by combining
a delayed signal with the original and continuously varying
the delay to create additional overtones.

Flutter - 1) High-frequency pitch variations
in program material due to speed fluctuations in a recorder
or playback unit. Often expressed as "wow and flutter".

Frequency - The rate or speed at which
an audio source generates complete cycles in one second. The
number of cycles that occur in one second is call hertz (Hz.).

Frequency Range - The range of frequencies
over which an electronic device delivers its best performance
or over which a sound source will produce substantial energy.
(see also Bandwidth)

Frequency Response - A plot or graph of
frequencies that an audio device, such as a mic, amplifier
or speaker, can accurately reproduce within stated parameters
or conditions.

Frequency Shift Key - FSK for short. An
electronic clock signal that can be used to synchronize sequencer
playback with an audio tape.

Gain Control - A control that increases
or reduces the output level of an amplifier or audio circuit.

Gain Reduction - To limit or reduce signal
gain during high-level passages of music as with the use of
a limiter or compressor.

Gain Structure - How signal gain is handled
in each different stage or component of a sound system.

Garage - House music born out of 70s disco
clubs with the remix style of DJ Larry Levan from the famous
Paradise Garage club in NY.

Gate - A transient processing device that
turns a channel off or down whenever the program signal falls
below a preset level.

Generation - The number of times that an
original recording has been copied.

Graphic Equalizer - An audio device with
multiple frequency band boost and cut controls used to adjust
the tonality of a audio signal.

Groove - With reference to records, the
small microscopic indentations etched into a vinyl record
that contain audio source information for playback.

Ground - An electrical term used to describe
a terminal or connection where electric current drains to
earth.

Ground Lift - A switch that disconnects
the ground connection in one circuit with one in another circuit.
Often used to help eliminate ground loops and "hum".

Ground Lifter - A wall outlet adapter that
allows a three prong power cord to be plugged into a two prong
outlet. Must be used with caution as this adapter breaks the
ground connection and could be very hazardous under certain
circumstances.

Ground Loop - A double grounding of a line
or electronic device at two different "ground" points
with different voltages.

Group - A collection of channels or faders
on a mixing console whose output level can be controlled by
a single master slider.

Hh

Half Step - A pitch difference which is
the equivalent of that produced by two adjacent keys on a
piano.

Hall Program - A digital delay/reverb effects
setting that approximates concert hall ambience by the use
of a delay up to 25 milliseconds.

Hamster Switch - A feature offered on DJ
mixer that reverses the direction of the crossfader. Used
by DJs to perform a variety of complex mix effects.

Hard Disk Recording - A recording process
that stores digital audio data on the same rigid magnetic
recording media used in computers.

Harmonic Distortion - The occurrence of
harmonics in the output signal of a playback device or amplifier
which were not present in the original input signal. Harmonics
- A tone along with whole-number multiples of the fundamental
tone that distinguish the pitch of a particular instrument
or sound.

Head - The small magnetic assembly used
to record or read magnetic pulses on a recording tape or other
magnetic storage media such as a hard disk.

Head Amp - British term for Preamplifier.
A low-noise audio amplifier which takes a low-level signal,
such as the output of a phono cartridge, and steps it up to
normal line level.

Headphones - Small head worn speakers that
fit over or into the ears for personal sound monitoring or
listening.

Headroom - 1) The difference (expressed
in dB) between the normal operating level and clipping level
of an amplifier or audio device. 2) In recording, the difference
between a normal tape operating level and the level where
the distortion reaches 3%.

Headshell - The plug-in assembly located
at the front end of the tonearm used to mount the phono cartridge
for disc playback.

Hertz (Hz.) - A unit of frequency measurement
used to express the number of complete cycles occurring in
a one-second interval. Abbreviated as Hz.

High Frequencies - The audio frequencies
from 6000 Hz and above.

High Impedance (Hi-Z) - An audio device
with an electrical impedance of 5,000 ohms or more.

High-Impedance Mic - A microphone designed
to be used with a preamp circuit with an input impedance greater
than 20k ohms.

Highs - Short for High Frequencies. Audio
frequencies from 6,000 Hz and above.

Hip Hop - Often referred to as a style
of music, it is a musical sub-culture that involves four elements:
DJing, Grafitti, MCing and B-Boying.

House - Dance music with R&B influence
and 4/4/ beat that grew out of Chicago's famous Warehouse
Club.

Hum - Unwanted audible noise components
which occur when 60 Hz AC power line current is accidentally
introduced into the audio signal.

Ii

INC. - Short for Integrated Circuit. A
miniature electronic device comprised of many electrical circuits
sealed in a protective housing with contact prongs for connection
into a circuit board.

ID - Index data on a CD or DAT which provides
the start address of recorded music selections.

Intermodulation Distortion (IM Distortion)
- A form of audio distortion caused by the modulation
of a signal harmonic by another harmonic resulting in the
creation of additional harmonics equal to both the sum and
the difference of the original frequencies.

Impedance - The measure of total opposition
to the flow of electric current, especially in an alternating
current circuit.

Impedance Matching - Converting the output
impedance of a device to match the input impedance of the
device it will feed.

Industrial - A term used to classify a
broad range of hard house and alternative house music.

Initialize - The preparation of a digital
storage medium, such as a floppy or hard disk, to accept data.

Input - 1) The physical connection, such
as a jack or terminal, where a device receives a signal. 2)
The incoming signal data received by a device. Input Impedance
- The opposition to the flow of electrical current by the
initial circuits of the receiving device.

Input Monitor - A switch and mode setting
on an audio recording device that permits meter monitoring
of the incoming input signal.

Input Overload - A condition that occurs
when the input signal level is too high and overloads the
first amplifier stage resulting in signal clipping.

Insert - 1) A switch or control on a recording
console or recording equipment. that allows punch in of selected
audio channels for recording. 2) A TRS jack on a mixing console
used to patch in outboard effects or signal processing equipment
into an input channel.

Integrated Circuit - See I/C..

Interface - A device that enables one unit
to communicate, control or interact with another through a
software or direct cable connection.

Intermodulation Distortion - See IM Distortion.

I/O - Short for "Input/Output."
A port or in-line control for channeling the flow of signal
data to and from a device.

Jj

Jack - A panel-mounted or cable-wired connector
designed for use with corresponding plug connectors.

Joystick - A flexible shaft-mounted control
which can move in four planes (up, down, left and right) for
use in performing multiple control operations.

Kk

k - The abbreviation for kilo, the prefix
for 1000.

Keyboard - 1) Any musical instrument operated
by pressing a key. 2) The control unit of a computer that
incorporates typewriter-styled alphanumeric keys.

kHz - The Abbreviation for kilohertz (1,000
Hz).

Kilo - A prefix meaning 1000.

Ll

Layering - Recording (or playing) a musical
part with other several similar sound patches playing simultaneously
to add more body or fullness to the recording.

Lead - The musical instrument that plays
a song's melody, including the vocal.

LED - See light emitting diode.

Level - The average amplitude or audio
peaks that comprise the strength of a signal.

Light Emitting Diode - A small diode device
which passes current in one direction and lights whenever
a voltage above a certain level is fed to it.

Line - 1) A popular term for line level
signal. 2) A cable connection.

Line Input - An input device that accepts
a line level signal

Line Level - A signal level referenced
at +4 dBm or more.

Line Out (Line Output) - An output jack
that sends out a line level signal.

Linear - When changes occurring to the
output of a device reflect the same proportional changes occurring
at the input. Lo-Z - Short for the Low Impedance. A signal
impedance of 500 ohms or less.

Load - 1) The resistance to the flow of
an audio signal seen at the input of the receiving device.
2) The lowest ohms value (impedance) a device (such as a speaker)
was designed to deliver during operation.

Long Delay - A delay time of 60 milliseconds
or more.

Loop - A seamless repeat of an audio sample
or musical segment.

Loudness Control - An equalization curve
to compensate for the inability of the ear to hear low and
extreme high frequencies at low levels.

Low End - A popular term for bass frequencies
below 250 Hz.

Low Frequencies - Any audible audio frequencies
below 1,000 Hz.

Low Impedance - Any audio device with an
impedance of 500 ohms or less.

Low-Pass Filter - A device that passes
signals below a given frequency and rejects those above that
frequency.

Mm

Master - 1) A control used to adjust the
main output level of a mixing console. 2) The machine used
to provide the clock signals or speed reference when synchronizing
multiple devices to run together. 3) An original recording
which will be used to make a production master for commercial
duplication.

Master Fader - The slider used for controlling
the main output(s) of a mixer or mixing console during mixdown.

Measure - A specific number of musical
beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a
music staff.

MIDI - The abbreviation for Musical Instrument
Digital Interface. A digital communications language and hardware
specification enabling compatible electronic instruments,
sequencers, computers, etc., to communicate with each other
in a network.

MIDI Channel - A collection of MIDI data
for the performance of a single instrument, synthesizer, etc.,
that is separate from any other MIDI device.

MIDI Clock - Time data contained in the
MIDI signal that advances one step with each 1/24 of a beat
and is used to sync two sequencers together.

MIDI Clock With Song Pointer - A MIDI clock
signal that also features a number signal for each music measure
to provide location tracking throughout the song.

MIDI Controller - A MIDI device, usually
with a keyboard, which can be played by a musician and used
to control sound modules and synthesizers.

MIDI Interface - A device that converts
a MIDI signal into digital data which can be stored and played
back by a computer.

MIDI Sample Dump - The transmission or
copying of sampled digital audio and loop information from
one sampling device to another using MIDI SDS (sample dump
standard) code.

MIDI Sequencer - A programmable digitally-based
device used to record, edit and play back MIDI data to control
the performance sequence of MIDI controlled musical instruments
or devices.

MIDI Time Code - A method of translating
SMPTE time code into MIDI messages for interlocking audio,
video and film transport devices for recording and editing.

Milli- - The prefix for 1/1000 as in milliseconds
or millimeter.

Minidisc - A small 2.5" compact disc
introduced by Sony in 1992 capable of recording up to 74 minutes
of CD-quality stereo programming. Mix - 1) To combine several
audio channels into a single one. 2) To blend two different
music programs by creating a smooth transition from one to
the other.

Mixer (Mixing Console) - A device with
multiple input channels and controls for creating a composite
audio signal from different program sources.

Mixdown (Mix Down) - The process of combining
several audio tracks from a multitrack recorder through the
use of a mixing console to create a stereo or four-channel
master tape.

Modem - A communications device for transmitting
digital data from a computer over telephone lines.

Modular Digital Multitrack (MDM ) - A multitrack
digital recorder, usually with 8 tracks, that can be slaved
with other recorders to obtain additional recording tracks.

Modulation - To change the wave and frequency
characteristics of a signal through the use of another signal.

Modulation Noise - Noise components that
only appear when an audio signal is present.

Monitor - 1) To carefully listen to and
study a recording or mix so as to make adjustments. 2) A speaker
used as a listening reference for recording or live mixing.
3) A meter or display device that provides a visual reference
of audio signal levels.

Monitor Channel (Monitor Path) - A separate
audio bus on a mixing console used for listening to audio
fed to a channel or received from a track of a multitrack
recorder.

Monitor Mixer - 1) A section of a mixing
console (monitor mixer section) used to perform a rough mix
for reference monitoring without effecting the level settings
for the multitrack recorder. 2) A mixing console used for
adjusting and balancing live program feeds for the stage monitor
speakers.

Monitor Selector - 1) A switch on mixing
console that enables you to hear the monitor bus or selected
input and playback devices over control room monitor speakers.
2) A switch on tape machines that allows you to monitor signals
recorded on the tape or the input signals from the program
source.

Mono - Short for Monophonic or Monaural.
A recording or playback system which uses a single channel
as the central sound source.

Moving Coil Cartridge - A phono cartridge
that employs the use of two small wire coils to generate the
electrical signal for record playback. Unlike the more popular
moving magnet designs, the signal output of a moving coil
cartridge is so low that it requires a special preamplifier.

Moving Fader Automation - A feature found
on automated studio mixing consoles where fader settings can
be stored in memory and recalled automatically during multitrack
recorder playback, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.

Moving Magnet Cartridge - A phono cartridge
design that incorporates the use of two small magnets to generate
the electrical signal for record playback. Ms - The abbreviation
for milliseconds (1/1000th of a second) Normally not capitalized.

Multitasking - The ability of a computer
to run multiple applications at the same time.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface -
(See MIDI) Mute Switch - A switch or control used to turn
off or silence an input channel, tape track, etc.

Nn

Noise Floor - Expressed in dB, the level
of random noise below the program signal.

Noise Gate - An active circuit which passes
audio signals above a certain threshold level and mutes the
signal output when no signal is present.

Noise Reduction - Any active device to
reduce or remove noise in an audio component or system.

Non-Destructive Editing - An editing process
in hard disk recording and sampling where only the marked
or selected portions of the digital audio is programmed to
play, leaving the unmarked selections still intact on the
hard drive.

Oo

Octave - A difference in pitch produced
by doubling or halving a frequency tone.

Off Axis -To be positioned away from the
front axis of a microphone or speaker. Measured in degrees
from the center axis.

Ohm - A measurement unit for expressing
electrical resistance in an electrical circuit. See also Impedance.

Omnidirectional - 1) Microphones designed
to pick up sound evenly from all directions. 2) Speakers designed
to evenly disperse sound in all directions. On Axis - 1) To
be position directly in front of microphone in line with the
movement of it diaphragm. 2) To be located directly in front
of a speaker in line with the center axis of its high frequency
driver components.

Open Circuit - 1) An incomplete signal
path in an electrical circuit such as a break in a wire conductor.

Open Track - A free track on a multitrack
tape available for recording.

Operating Level - The maximum level for
normal operation of a sound system that should not be exceeded.

Oscillator - 1) An audio device used to
generate test tones at various frequencies for test and troubleshooting
applications. 2) The tone generating device in a synthesizer
used to create instrument sounds.

Outboard Equipment - External signal processing
and effects gear that is used in conjunction with a mixer
or recorder.

Output - 1) The jack or physical connection
where a device sends out a signal. 2) The signal put out by
a device.

Output Impedance - The electrical resistance
to current flow by the output circuits of an amplifier or
other electronic device.

Overload - To apply too much signal level
into an amplifier circuit resulting in output distortion.

Overload Indicator - An indicator light
on a channel of a mixer that comes on when the signal is at
overload.

Oversampling - A process where the analog
audio signal (or digital audio signal for playback) is sampled
many times more than the minimum sampling rate required for
normal playback.

Pp

Pad - A switch or control on a input channel
used to attenuate (reduce) the input signal to prevent overloading
the amplifier circuit.

Panpot (Pan Pot) - A rotary channel control
used for placing or balancing a single input signal at any
point between the left and right channels of the stereo image.

Parallel Connection - To join electrical
devices, such as speakers, so that matching terminals are
connected in sequence (plus "+" to plus "+"
and minus "-" to minus "-") so that current
is supplied to each device at the same time.

Parallel Jacks - A method of wiring multiple
jacks so that each receives the same input signal.

Phantom Powering - Power supplied to a
condenser microphone directly from the mixing console through
the XLR connector. Eliminates the need for an external +48V
power supply.

Phone Plug (Jack) - A plug (or the corresponding
mating jack) that is 1/4-inch in diameter and 1-1/4-inches
in length used for a wide variety of audio connection applications.

Phono Cartridge - A small transducer device
that converts mechanical energy transferred from the stylus
into electrical signals representing the audio information
etched into the record's grooves.

Phono Plug - Commonly called an RCA plug.
A popular audio plug found on stereo audio cables featuring
a center pin connector and outer shell connector. Mates with
panel mounted female jacks like those found on the rear of
most home stereo equipment.

Pick Up Pattern - The basic shape of the
area that a microphone will provide the best pick up characteristics.
Not to be confused with polar pattern.

Pitch - 1) The perception of a musical
tone by the frequency of the sound waves producing it. 2)
A control found on professional turntables, CD players and
tape decks for varying the playback tempo and pitch up and
down.

Pitch Bend - 1) A control on a synthesizer
or MIDI keyboard for raising or lowering the pitch of a musical
tone. 2) A control found professional CD players and some
turntables for making incremental changes in pitch. Playlist
- 1) A sequential list of soundfiles programmed for playback
by a computer. 2) A group of music selections programmed for
playback on a CD player or other playback media.

Plug - A male connector, usually on a cable,
designed to mate with a chassis-mounted female jack.

Polar Pattern - 1) A polar graph displaying
the pickup sensitivity of a microphone at difference frequencies
and at different angles from the on-axis position. 2) A polar
graph indicating a speaker's dispersion characteristics relative
to its on-axis performance.

Polyphonic - The capability of a electronic
musical instrument play multiple notes at the same time.

Pop Filter - A foam or wire screen placed
between the microphone and singer to reduce unwanted "pop"
sounds produced by wind and breath blasts.

Post - The routing of send bus or other
channel control signals after the main channel fader.

Pot - 1) The abbreviation for potentiometer.
2) A slide or rotary gain, pan or other variable signal control.

Power Amplifier - An audio device that
increases a line level signal to a voltage sufficient to drive
speakers.

Pre-Amp - An amplifier circuit or device
that brings a low-level signal up to normal line level.

Pre Fader - The routing of send bus or
other channel control signals before the main channel fader.

Pre Fader Listen (PFL) - A monitor circuit
that allows an engineer to listen to and/or meter a channel
signal without changing or altering the channel fader setting.

Producer - The individual in charge of
managing and coordinating all of the production details associated
with a recording project, including scheduling, budgeting
and product quality.

Program Number - Often referred to as track
number. The number of the music or recorded selection on a
CD or DAT.

Program Equalization - The process of adjusting
the level of select frequency bands on a program equalizer
to emphasize or de-emphasis certain tonal properties of a
sound system.

Qq

Qq

Quantization - Part of the digital audio
sampling process, the step where the analog to digital converter
assigns binary values to the sampled waveform which correspond
to the amplitude voltage of the waveform.

Rr

Rack Ears (Rack Flanges) - Accessory brackets
that can be attached to equipment for mounting in a standard
19-inch rack enclosure.

Rap - A spoken word song with elements
of rhyme, political and social commentary, scratch and drum
machine loops all arranged to create a rhythmic performance.

RCA Plug (jack) - See Phono Plug.

R-DAT - The abbreviation for Rotary-Head
Digital Audio Tape. An industry standard digital audio recording
format based around a compact tape cassette that's even smaller
than a conventional audio cassette. Generally used for stereo
mixdown and CD mastering. More commonly known as DAT.

Reactance - Electrical resistance to current
flow which changes with the frequency of the current.

Read - The retrieval of digitally encoded
data from a storage device such as a hard drive, computer
memory or removable record media.

Read Only Memory (ROM) - A memory INC.
with data stored on it that cannot be erased or rewritten
by the user.

Record Bus - The wire path that carries
channel signals from the mixing console to the inputs of a
multitrack recorder.

Release - The end portion of a note as
it drops from a sustain signal level to silence. The time
it takes for a sustained note on a keyboard synthesizer to
drop to silence when the key is released.

Release Time - The time it takes for a
dynamics processing device (such as a compressor, limiter
or expander) to return the processed signal to 63% of its
original (unprocessed) level.

Remixer - An individual who specializes
in taking originally recorded material and making a dance
mix version of it by changing the tempo and adding loops or
other sampled parts.

Resistance - Opposition to the flow of
DC current in a wire or electrical circuit.

Return - An input jack on a mixing console that
receives a processed send signal from outboard gear such as
a equalizer, compressor, limiter, etc.

Reverb - The abbreviation for reverberation.
1) The gradual decay of original and reflected sound waves
that occur naturally as a result of room acoustics. 2) An
echo effect used to recreate the natural effects of room reverberation.

RF - The abbreviation for Radio Frequencies.
RF Interference - Unwanted electrical interference that occurs
when spurious radio waves are introduced into audio signal
cables resulting in noise, hum and static.

Riding Faders - Adjusting channel faders
up and down during a live concert or recording session to
ensure optimum signal and sound quality. Room Equalization
- A separate equalizer used in a sound system to compensate
for changes in frequency response due to the effects of room
acoustics.

Root Mean Square (RMS) - The measurement
of a waveform's average signal level.

Rotary Control - A control device, such
as a potentiometer, that is operated by rotating or turning
it. Rumble - A low-frequency noise sometimes caused by motor
vibration from a turntable's or tape transport's drive system.

Ss

Sample Dump - See MIDI Sample Dump.

Sampler - A digital recording device capable
of capturing and storing audio signals which can be later
manipulated and played back from RAM (random access memory).

Sampling Frequency - The number of digital
snapshots or samples taken of an analog audio signal in one
second necessary to produce a digital interpretation of the
original signal. The industry standard sampling frequency
for CD-quality audio is 44.1 kHz. Also referred to as Sample
Rate.

Scratch - A turntable mix technique that
involves rocking the record back and forth by hand with the
phono cartridge in the playing position, creating a variety
of rhythmic sound patterns.

Send - An output control and signal bus
used to route input channel signals to outboard effects and
signal processing gear such as digital delays, equalizers
and reverb units.

Sequencer - A digital device which can
be programmed to play a collection of musical patterns, samples
and tones to a preset tempo at programmed time intervals.

Series Connection - To join electrical
devices so that their terminals are connected in sequence
(plus "+" to minus "-") to allow a common
flow of current to all the devices.

Servo-Controlled - A control system used
to regulate motor speed by referencing its revolutions per
minute to a timing signal.

Shielded Cable - A cable with braided wire
or metallic foil wrapped around the inside wire conductor(s)
to "shield" against radio frequency interference
(RFI) or other unwanted electrical noise.

Shock Mount - A mounting or suspension
system designed to prevent or reduce vibration that can have
unwanted effects on a microphone or playback system such as
a turntable or CD player.

Short (Short Circuit) - An unwanted or
accidental connection made between two points in a circuit.

Short Delay - Delay times under 20 milliseconds.

Shuttle Control - A feature found on video
and audio tape editing systems that enable the engineer to
unlock the tape transport in order to manipulate the tape
reels by hand to locate a desired edit or cue point.

Sibilance - An undesirable vocalization
that occurs when sounds such as "s", "sh"
or "ch" are over accentuated resulting in high-frequency
distortion.

Sidechain - An insert jack found on compressor/limiters
which enable the use of an outboard equalizer for frequency
dependent signal processing.

Signal Processing - Any active processing
performed on an audio signal designed to alter or enhance
its sonic characteristics.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio - A measure of how
quiet an audio device is when no signal is present. Also referred
to as Hum and Noise or Residual Noise.

Sine Wave - The waveform produced by a
signal source at a specific frequency.

Slide - A control device, such as a potentiometer,
which is operated by moving it in a straight line.

Slip Cue - A record cue technique that
involves rocking the record back and forth by hand to locate
the desired start position. Once located, the DJ holds the
record in position by hand and then releases it on cue to
achieve near instant start up.

Slipmat - A circular piece of felt-type
material used by DJs in place of the rubber mat to provide
slippage for slip cueing and scratching techniques.

SMPTE Time Code - A standardized timing
and sync signal specified by the Society of Motion Picture
and Television Engineers.

Solo Switch - A monitor switch enabling
an engineer to listen to selected mix channels via the studio
monitors or headphones without effecting the mixdown product.

Sound File (Soundfile) - A digital audio
recording which can be stored on a computer hard drive or
other digital storage medium such as a Zip disc.

Sound Level Meter - A device used to measure
sound and music loudness as expressed in decibels. See also
sound pressure level.

Source - Usually refers to the audio device,
microphone, CD player, turntable or tape machine, connected
to the input channel of a mixing console or recorder. Also
commonly called sound source.

S/PDIF - Stands for Sony/Phillips Digital
Interface. A data protocol developed by Sony and Phillips
for sending and receiving digital audio signals using a standard
RCA connector.

Spin (Spinning) - Slang terms for DJ mixing.
Square Wave - A waveform where voltage instantly rises to
a level, holds there, instantly drops to another level and
holds there and instantly rises to its original level to complete
one cycle. This waveform pattern is characteristic of a severely
clipped sine wave.

Stage Monitor -Speakers placed on stage
so that each performer can hear themselves and hear what the
other musicians are playing.

Stanton - World leading manufacturer of
magnetic phono cartridges and headphones for professional
DJs.

Step Program (Step Mode/Step Time) - Programming
a sequencer one note or sequence at a time.

Stereo Image - A listener's perception
of the left, right and center placement of sound sources in
a stereo recording. Stylus - The small needle-like part of
the phonograph cartridge that comes in contact with the record's
grooves.

Subcode - Playback control information
that is recorded along with the digital audio data and can
be used for controlling the playback deck and information
display.

Submix - A mix of audio signals that can
be adjusted through a single (mono) or dual set (stereo) of
level controls.

Sum - An audio signal that is the combination
(mix) of two stereo channels at equal levels and in phase.

Super-Cardioid Pattern - A microphone with
maximum pickup sensitivity on axis and minimum sensitivity
approximately 150 degrees off axis.

Surround Sound - Recording and playback
systems used in theatres to add a directional quality to sound
so that the listener is able to perceive the direction or
movement of the sound source.

Sustain - To hold or prolong the sound
of a note played by an instrument.

Sweetening - Musical parts mixed into a
recording, such as effects, strings and horns, to create a
richer more melodic sound.

Synchronization (Sync) - To run two or
more recording or playback devices so that all transport operations
on each machine function at the same time and in perfect unison.

Talkback - A feature that enables the engineer
to use a console microphone in the control room to talk to
vocalists and musicians over studio monitors or headphones.

Talkover - A control switch, usually on
a mixer, which lowers program volume for use during vocal
announcements.

Tape - A popular term for magnetic recording
tape. A narrow, thin plastic tape with a fine coating of magnetically
active particles capable of holding a magnetic charge for
recording audio and digital data.

Tape Loop - An endless loop of recording
tape used to provide continuous recording or playback.

Tapeless Recording - See Hard Disk Recording.

Techno - A dance music style with early
roots in Europe and black dance clubs in Detroit. It typically
has higher BPMs than house, loads of synthesized sounds and
barely any vocals.

Tempo - See Beats Per Minute Terminal -
1) A metal post or screw used for wire connection of two electrical
devices such as speakers and amplifiers. 2) A keyboard control
and video display used to enter and access data from a computer.

THD - The abbreviation for Total Harmonic
Distortion. See also Harmonic Distortion Three Way Speaker
- A speaker system design which features three separate drivers
to reproduce the bass, midrange and high frequencies.

Threshold Control - The control on a signal
processing device that adjusts the signal level at which signal
processing takes place.

Threshold of Pain - The sound pressure
level at which a listener feels pain 50% of the time. This
corresponds to a sound pressure level of 140 dB in a frequency
range from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. Trip-Hop - A hybrid combination
of Hip Hop and Techno with heavy electronic sounds and hard
bass line.

Throat - The small opening at the base
of a horn through which sound waves from the driver element
pass on to the horn.

Throw - A term used to describe the amount
of excursion or movement that a speaker or microphone diaphragm
can travel to create or recreate a sound.

Thru Port - A jack on an instrument or
device which outputs the same MIDI signal received at the
MIDI input.

Timbre - The tonal characteristics of an
instrument that give it its own distinct sound which distinguishes
it from other instruments.

Time Code - Short for SMPTE Time Code.
An industry standard timing and sync signal specification
established by the Society of Motion Picture and Television
Engineers. See also MIDI time code.

Tiny Telephone Jack/Plug - (See TT) Tone
- 1) An audible sound at a fixed frequency. 2) The sound characteristics
of an musical instrument or recording as it relates to pitch
and sonic quality.

Tone Arm - The pivoting support arm located
at the rear of the turntable base used to hold the cartridge
and stylus during record playback.

Tone Generator - 1) An electronic device
capable of generating test tones at various frequencies for
testing and trouble shooting applications. 2) An oscillator
circuit in a synthesizer used to generate audio signals and
tones similar in sound to various instruments.

Touch Sensitive - 1) A switch or control
which can be activated by touch. 2) An electronic instrument
capable of generating velocity MIDI signals. (See velocity
sensitive).

Track - 1) A single portion of a multitrack
tape used to record a one mixdown channel. 2) The information
recorded from a single mixdown channel on one portion of multitrack
tape. 3) A portion of a CD used to record a musical selection.

Track Log (Track Sheet) - An index sheet
kept with a multitrack track that identifies the recorded
contents of each track.

Tracking - 1) The ability of a stylus to
faithfully trace the grooves of a record. 2) The pressure
applied to the stylus by the counterweight of the tonearm.

Tracking Error - The measure of a phonograph
stylus' ability to accurately retrace the grooves on a record.
The lower the tracking error, the more accurate the stylus.

Transducer - A device which converts input
energy of one form into another.

Trance (Ambient/Trance) - A term that loosely
describes a hybrid flavor of techno-styled music with long
playing repetitive loops and breaks reminiscent of trance-inducing
ambient music of the Far East.

Transformer - An electrical component consisting
of two or more coils of wire used to transfer electric current
from one AC circuit to another through magnetic coupling.

Transient - The sudden energy rise occurring
at the start of a waveform such as those generated by a drum
hit, string pluck or cymbal strike.

Transient Response - How quickly a microphone
diaphragm, speaker or other vibrating mass reacts to an input
waveform.

Transmit - To send data or a signal from
one device to another.

Transpose - To rewrite a musical composition
in an alternate key

Transport - The drive section of a tape
machine that moves the recording tape past the heads from
the supply to the take-up reels.

Transport Controls - The controls used
to perform all start, stop, play, and rewind functions, etc.,
of a recording or playback device.

Treble Frequencies - Audio signals that
occupy the upper end of the audio frequency spectrum.

Tremolo - A musical effect produced by
the steady, rapid alternation of two different tones.

Triangular Wave - A waveform with a steep
rise and decay time resembling the shape of a triangle.

Trigger - To signal the start of an event,
such as a recording, by activating a control signal or switch.

Trim Control - An input channel control
for making signal level adjustments over a certain range.

Troubleshooting - To locate the source
of a system malfunction through a logical series of test procedures.

TRS - Short for tip, ring and sleeve. A
term commonly used to refer to a stereo 1/4-inch phone plug.

Truncation - An editing method, usually
with sampled material, which involves moving the start or
end point of the sample so that only the desired portion is
played.

TT - The trademark of Switchcraft for its
Tiny Telephone Jack/Plug. A smaller version of the standard
1/4-inch phone jack/plug.

Tuned - Refers to a circuit or device which
is most sensitive to a specific frequency.

Turntable - A more popular term for phonograph
player. Also "tables" is the popular slang term
for turntables.

Turnover Frequency - The same as Cut-Off
Frequency. The point or frequency limit in a filtering circuit
at which signals are allowed to pass.

TV Interference - TVI for short. Unwanted
RF (radio frequency) interference from television stations
that can introduce "hum" and "buzz" into
audio lines.

Tweak - A slang term for critical fine
tuning or calibration of a system to achieve optimum performance.

Tweeter - A speaker driver designed to
reproduce only the upper frequency range.

Uu

u - The English variant of the Greek letter
"mu" which is the symbol for one millionth.

Unidirectional - Refers to thepick-up pattern
of a microphone that is more sensitive to sound arriving from
one direction than from any other.

Unity Gain - When the signal level at the
output of an amplifier or device is equal to the original
input signal strength.

Upper Midrange - Audio frequencies between
2 kHz and 6 kHz.

Vv

VCA - (See Voltage Controlled Amplifier)

Velocity Message - A MIDI message produced
by a MIDI synthesizer or that provides data on how hard the
key was struck.

Velocity Sensitive - Also the same as Touch
Sensitive. The ability of a MIDI instrument, such as a synthesizer
keyboard, to generate a MIDI velocity message, providing information
on how hard the key was struck.

Virtual Tracking - A feature that enables
a MIDI sequencer to operate in sync with a multitrack tape
recorder.

Voice - A term used to describe a synthesizer
pitch or sound that can be played simultaneously with other
pitches or sounds

Volatile Memory - Temporary computer memory
that is purged or lost when the computer is turned off.

Volt Meter - A device used to measure voltage
levels and electrical current.

Voltage - The flow of electrons through
a conductor to obtain electrical current.

Voltage Controlled - A device that is controlled
by voltage changes received from a control current.

Voltage Controlled Amplifier - An audio
device that uses changes in a control voltage sent to it to
adjust audio signal levels.

Voltage Controlled Fader - A fader which
incorporates a VCA so that fader movement adjusts the control
voltage used to change the audio level.

Volume - 1) A popular term which loosely
refers to the sound pressure level produced by a sound system
at any given time. 2) The output gain setting of an amplifier.

Volume Control - A control used for the
adjusting the output gain of an amplifier.

Volume Unit (VU) - A numerical value used
to represent perceived changes in loudness of an audio source.

VU Meter - A device that provides a continuous
reading of changes in audio voltage levels as they pass in
or out of a piece of audio equipment.

Ww

Watt - A unit of electrical power. To calculate
wattage consumption, multiply the line voltage by the number
of amps that the device consumes (110 volts times 2.5 amps
equals 275 watts).

Wave - The oscillation of an energy source
in amplitude from one point to another or for a given period
of time.

Waveform - The shape of an audio wave,
with all of its fluctuations, over a given period of time.

Wavelength - The length of a complete audio
cycle in feet, inches, etc.

Wet - Refers to a recording that is rich
in reverberation or ambience.

White Noise - A random noise component
which increases in level with frequency.

Wide Band Noise - Noise components that
are present over a wide range of frequencies.

Windscreen - A device used with microphones
to prevent the unwanted pick up of wind noise and breath blasts.

Wireless Microphone - A microphone system
that uses a mic transmitter to provide cordless audio transmission
to a separate receiver unit.

Woofer - A speaker designed to reproduce
only low frequency sound waves.

Wow - Low pitch changes in a recorded program
due to slow and gradual changes in the speed of the record
or playback device.

Write Mode - Similar to record mode. The
operating mode in which a data recording device is ready to
"write" or store information onto a floppy disc
or hard drive.

Write Protect - A tab on a floppy disc
or a function in a unit which protects recorded or stored
data from being damaged or erased by writing over it.

Founded in 1946, Stanton Magnetic's is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio products for club and mobile DJs and turntablists. The company's product range includes Digital DJ Controller, SC Systems, DJ Packages, CD Players, Mixers, Turntables, Phono Cartridges, Headphones and Accessories. With over 50 years of innovation, Stanton is the name DJs trust.